Athletics: Sprinters duel for pride and place

SACRAMENTO - The titans of American sprinting, world record holders Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene, will duel for pride and Sydney Games berths in intriguing US Olympic trials, which begin today.

After months of hype and barbs, Johnson and Greene will finally decide who is best at 200m on Greene's 26th birthday, July 23, during 10 days of cut-throat trials already filled with interesting sub-plots.

Can Marion Jones, for example, win both women's sprints and the long jump to launch her quest for five gold medals in Sydney? Will her husband, CJ Hunter, claim the men's shot put title as he did at last year's world championships?

The top three finishers in each event will qualify for Sydney.

"The trials are the biggest meet of my life right now," said Greene, who has never run at the Olympics despite his two world championships and world record 9.79s in the 100m.

"Nothing comes close at this point."

Greene hopes to win the 100m this weekend before clashing with Johnson in the 200.

Johnson has his sights set on turning trials victories in the 200m and 400m into stepping-stones on the way to becoming the first athlete to achieve repeat victories in those events at the Olympics.

"People don't come to see us just to see the stars give lacklustre performances," he said. "They're coming to see great races and I plan to give them that."

Neither athlete, it seems, wants to hold back for a rematch in Sydney.

World 200m women's champion Inger Miller is hoping to generate a similar showdown with Jones at both 100m and 200m.

But twice world 100m champion Jones, who crashed out of last year's world championships in the 200 because of back spasms, said: "All these people who are doing this talking, what they need to do is concentrate on their race.

"The trials are pretty much do-or-die. If you don't make the team, your season is pretty much over.

"If people go there joking, playing around, figuring they are going to automatically make the team, they are going to get their feelings hurt."

Then there is Jackie Joyner-Kersee, making a comeback at 38. Will she be a threat to Jones' aspirations in the long jump? Can she make her fifth consecutive Olympic team?

Will legally blind Marla Runyan overcome her handicap and a recent injury to spin a heart-warming 1500m story?

The answers will come as rapidly as a sprint and as slowly as a walk as the Americans decide on their Olympic team.

- REUTERS

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